It is normal for anyone to feel a great deal of fear and shock when they are diagnosed with cancer. However, when the doctor says, "We need to start chemotherapy," that fear can increase even more. But being well-informed about the medications you are being given, that is, the treatment, will give you great strength. Today we are going to talk about the most commonly used cancer treatment, the Paclitaxel vaccine.
What kind of medicine is Paclitaxel?
Simply put, Paclitaxel is a type of chemotherapy drug. Its main function is to target and destroy the rapidly dividing cells in our body. Now you may be wondering, "What happens to the good cells?"
Think about it, cancer cells are cells that divide very quickly, without any control. Paclitaxel medicine recognizes these rapidly dividing cells and attacks them. However, some healthy cells in our body (for example, the cells that form hair follicles, the cells in the mouth) also divide rapidly. That is why side effects such as hair loss and mouth sores occur when taking chemotherapy.
This medicine is mainly used for:
- Ovarian cancer
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- To treat cancer conditions such as Kaposi's sarcoma.
Things to tell your doctor before starting treatment
This is very important. Before starting Paclitaxel treatment, you should talk to your doctor about your health without hiding anything. Be sure to tell him/her about the following:
| Health condition or problem | Why should I tell the doctor? |
|---|---|
| Irregular heartbeat or other heart disease | This medicine can sometimes affect the heartbeat. |
| Liver disease | Since the liver helps remove drugs from the body, if you have a liver problem, your medication dosage may need to be changed. |
| Low blood counts (e.g., low white blood cells, low platelets) | This medication can further reduce blood cell counts, so it is important to know the condition before starting treatment. |
| Respiratory problems such as lung disease and asthma | It is important to be aware of this in advance, as breathing difficulties can occur in rare cases. |
| Nerve disorders such as numbness and pain in the limbs | This medication can affect the nerves and may worsen an existing condition. |
| Allergies (especially to Paclitaxel, castor oil, other chemo drugs, foods, or dyes) | Because severe allergic reactions to Paclitaxel can occur, it is imperative to report any allergies. |
| If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding a baby | This medicine can cause serious harm to an unborn baby and can also affect the baby through breast milk. |
How can I give you this medicine?
Paclitaxel is an injection (infusion) given through a saline solution into a vein. This is done in a hospital or clinic by specially trained medical staff. So there is nothing to worry about.
Important: If you are unable to go to the hospital for treatment on the scheduled day, do not panic and call your doctor immediately. It is not a good idea to skip treatment.
If you suspect that you have accidentally overdosed on this medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
What are the things to consider during treatment?
Your doctor will monitor you closely throughout your treatment. You will also need to have regular blood tests. In the meantime, it is important for you to take care of these things.
Allergic Reactions
This medicine can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. To reduce this risk, you will be given some other medicines (pre-medication) before you receive the Paclitaxel injection. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you get any symptoms during or after the injection, such as itching, redness, rash, or swelling of your face, lips, or tongue .
Protection from infections
Chemotherapy reduces your body's ability to fight disease (immunity), so it's very important to protect yourself from infections during this time.
- Stay away from people who have illnesses like colds and flu.
- If you develop symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, or sore throat , do not take medication as you feel like it and call your doctor immediately.
- Especially do not take medications like paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen without your doctor's advice. These can suppress the fever and make it difficult to detect an infection inside the body.
Bleeding and bruising
This medicine may reduce the number of platelets that help stop bleeding.
- If you experience minor bruising, small red spots on your skin, blood in your urine, or black stools, tell your doctor immediately.
- Be careful when brushing your teeth and using toothpicks. Your teeth may bleed. If you are having dental treatment, tell your dentist that you are taking chemo.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Women: Avoid becoming pregnant completely while taking this medication. Breastfeeding is also not recommended during this time.
Men: You are advised to avoid fathering a child while taking this medication.
Possible Side Effects
Like any medicine, Paclitaxel can cause side effects. However, not everyone gets them. The table below will help you understand these.
| Paclitaxel side effects | |
|---|---|
| Things to report to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions (itchy skin, redness, swelling of the face/lips) | Difficulty breathing |
| Vision changes | Fast or irregular heartbeat |
| High or low blood pressure | Mouth sores |
| Severe pain, numbness, or loss of sensation in the limbs | Signs of bleeding (bruising, red spots on the skin, black stools, blood in the urine) |
| Signs of infection (fever, chills, cough, sore throat) | Signs of liver damage (yellowing of the eyes/skin, dark urine, pain in the upper right side of the stomach) |
| Swelling of hands, feet, ankles | Abnormally slow heartbeat |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Diarrhea | Hair loss |
| Appetite | Muscle or joint pain |
| Nausea, vomiting | Pain, redness at the injection site |
Take-Home Message
- Paclitaxel is a chemotherapy drug that kills cancer cells and is given intravenously. It is given in a hospital by trained staff.
- It is essential to tell your doctor about your other medical conditions and all medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbs).
- If you experience fever, bleeding, or allergic symptoms during treatment, seek medical advice immediately.
- It is normal to feel uncomfortable during treatment, but do not stop treatment without your doctor's advice.
- Avoid becoming pregnant while taking this medication. Men should also avoid fathering children during this time.
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